Viva la vida (2019)
Release Year: 2019
Nation: Spain
Alternative Title: Visca la vida
Director: José Luis García-Berlanga
Writer: Alicia Luna, Paco Enlaluna
Production & Genre
Awards & Similar
Awards:
Similar: N/A
Story
The story follows Juan and Ana, a married couple whose lives are turned upside down by the ongoing economic crisis in Spain. Juan, played by Pablo Chiapella, makes a desperate financial gamble by using their family home as collateral for a business deal that ultimately fails, leading to the loss of their house. Oblivious to their true financial state, Ana (Laura Romero) continues her lifestyle of spending until she is confronted with the reality of their ruin when her credit card is declined at a hair salon.
Forced to leave their home, the family moves into the house of Ana's parents, where she finally learns the full extent of their bankruptcy. To make ends meet, Ana begins working at her parents' plumbing and sanitation store, "Fontanería y Saneamientos Palomero". While Ana focuses her energy on the family business and taking on extra jobs to provide stability, Juan remains obsessed with finding a "big break" or a new business venture that will restore their former status. This situational comedy explores how the couple navigates their new, humble reality through contrasting approaches—one grounded in hard work and the other in persistent, often misguided, ambition.
Summary
Directed by José Luis García-Berlanga, the son of the legendary Spanish filmmaker Luis García Berlanga, Viva la Vida (2019) is a social comedy-drama that captures the fallout of the Spanish economic crisis through a satirical lens. Produced by Viva La Vida AIE and filmed on location in Valencia, the film runs for 95 minutes and was released in Spanish cinemas on May 24, 2019. The screenplay, co-written by Alicia Luna and Paco Enlaluna, features cinematography by Javier Salmones and an original score by Nacho Mañó.
